Flashback Friday: The Cutting Edge

If this isn't a classic, I don't know what is (that's only semi-sarcastic).

1992's "The Cutting Edge" tells the story of Doug Dorsey (played by D.B. Sweeney) and Kate Moseley (played by Moira Kelly).

Doug is a professional hockey player who is forced to leave the game after an eye injury. Kate is a spoiled figure skater whose prima donna attitude drives away countless skating partners. So when Kate's coach is forced to find her a new partner, he tracks down Doug who is eager just to skate again whether it's in the game of hockey or not.

So what happens when a macho hockey player and spoiled figure skater team up to skate in the Olympic Games? Pure magic.

Now, just because I'm suggesting this movie for Flashback Friday by no means insinuates that I'm condoning the writing, acting, or general plotlines of the film. It does mean that if it's on TV I can't pass up watching it.

...Though I will say that this is some of D.B. Sweeney's finest work. And that's including his impeccable performance in the short-lived Kelly Osbourne teen drama "Life As We Know It."

'Notorious' writer to pen Run-DMC film

It seems Cheo Hodari Coker, writer of the recently released biopic 'Notorious,' isn't exactly finished writing scripts about slain rap stars.

The Hollywood Reporter said today that Coker is currently attached to adapt "Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC -- The Authorized Biography" for the big screen. The book's author, Bill Adler, is also the group's former publicist and will serve as executive producer.


Dallas Jackson, president of DJ Classicz and producer for the film said, "It's an extraordinary rags-to-riches journey that I'm eager to bring to the screen, and I'm hoping to have Run, DMC and Russell Simmons' involvement. This will be a big movie about the 1980s hip-hop movement that took over the world."

Though there are no tentative release dates for the film, The Hollywood Reporter is saying that this film will follow the history of rap's first superstars-- Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell.

Mizell was shot and killed outside his studio in Queens in 2002.


Sources:
The Hollywood Reporter
IMDB

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Flashback Friday: Drop Dead Fred

First, an explanation. Every Friday will be "Flashback Friday." I'll spotlight a movie worth your viewing that was released a decade or more ago. And second...

This first Flashback Friday segment is dedicated tooooooo:

Drop Dead Fred.

Directed by Ate de Jong, Drop Dead Fred tells the story of Elizabeth (played by Phoebe Cates) and her imaginary friend Drop Dead Fred (played by Rik Mayall). Elizabeth was forced to let go of Fred when she was a child, only to rediscover him years later as she goes through a divorce.

Drop Dead Fred was released April 19, 1991 (Just to put it in perspective: Kids born in 1991 are turning 18 this year. I'm 21 and that makes me feel old.). The film initially did poorly grossing only $3.6 million during its opening weekend, going on to gross a total of $13.8 million. Though the film didn't do well in terms of box office ticket sales, the movie did go on to develop a cult following (which I am most certainly a part of).

I can remember watching this movie as a child over and over again. I watched it on a VHS tape from when it was recorded off of television, and then Santa finally brought me a true VHS version of the movie many years ago (and it was still just as good). More recently I decided I just had to upgrade to DVD. After searching high and low at Best Buys and Wal-Marts all over, I did a little research to discover that the DVD officially went out of print in 2008. No big deal, right? I can just check half.com or eBay. Not so. The DVD was going for $40 or more everywhere I looked!

So to sum up:

If you can get your hands on this little gem, watch it. Then let me know where you got it.

Oscar noms announced

The day has arrived. The one cold January day movie geeks look forward to every year. The nominations for the 81st Academy Awards were announced.

Leading the nominations this year was David Fincher's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with 13 nominations, becoming only the ninth film to reach that feat. Nominations for "Button" include best lead actor, best supporting actress, and best director.

Rounding out the nominations for best picture: "Frost/Nixon," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Milk," and "The Reader."

Noticeably absent from the best picture category was the box office smash "The Dark Knight," which received much Oscar talk following its release. While "The Dark Knight" did not garner a best picture nomination, it did pick up eight others including a posthumous best supporting actor nomination for Heath Ledger.

The 81st Academy Awards will air live February 22 on ABC.

Sources:

The Hollywood Reporter

Variety

Keanu Reeves will star in 'Cowboy Bebop'

Brace yourself, anime fans. It seems Jack Traven himself has been confirmed to star in the film adaptation of "Cowboy Bebop."

Keanu Reeves, best known for his roles as Jack Traven in "Speed" and Neo in "The Matrix" series, has been confirmed to star in the film as Spike Spiegel, according to Variety.

Spiegel is a bounty hunter traveling through space in the year 2071 in the "Bebop" series, which originated in Japan. The series first aired in 1998 on Tokyo TV and Wowow, eventually making its way to the U.S. as a part of the Adult Swim programming on the Cartoon Network.

Though a director has yet to be announced, Reeves has been confirmed to star in the film and Peter Craig, whose film writing credits only go back to 2003, has been confirmed as the film's writer.


Sources:
Variety
IMDB

Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix to team up for documentary

We all remember hearing the news last November--
Joaquin Phoenix announced he was giving up movies to pursue a career in music.

While we have yet to hear much of Phoenix's musical endeavors, we may not have to wait much longer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor Casey Affleck will go behind the lens to direct a documentary as Phoenix begins his journey as a rapper, beginning with his first public performance tonight at a club in Las Vegas.

Affleck will begin filming the documentary in Vegas, and continue to chronicle Phoenix as he makes his debut rap album, to be produced by none other than Sean Combs.

This will be Phoenix's first solo album, though he did receive a Grammy for his work on the Walk the Line soundtrack in 2005.

And while some of us may or may not be waiting on pins and needles for the album to be released, at least we already know he has his image nailed down:



Phoenix in Miami last month.





Sources:
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
IMDB

Welcome to Reel Film

For as long as I can remember I've loved movies. Not loved them in the sense that I might go to one every couple of weekends. More like loved them for what they are: works of art. It's like all forms of art wrapped up in one sitting: theater, photography, writing. It's all there. My favorite movies are not subject to one genre. I like Hollywood blockbusters, independent movies, romantic comedies (I'm slightly ashamed to admit that, but I'll get over it), foreign films. You name it, and I have a favorite of the genre.

So with Reel Film I hope to bring you a few things: up-to-date movie news as well as insight into what's worth watching.

And in case you want even more movie news than you can handle, check out these movie-related blogs/sites:
- themovieblog.com
- rottentomatoes.com
- dvdverdict.com
- filmfodder.com
- milkplus.blogspot.com